[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 19717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5683]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 011206293-3182-02; I.D. 041106B]


Pacific Halibut Fishery; Guideline Harvest Levels for the Guided 
Recreational Halibut Fishery

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of guideline harvest level.

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SUMMARY: NMFS provides notice of the guideline harvest level (GHL) for 
the guided sport halibut fishery (charter fishery) in the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory Areas 2C and 3A. The GHL 
provides a benchmark harvest level for participants in the charter 
fishery. This notice is necessary to meet the management and regulatory 
requirements for the GHL and to inform the public about the 2006 GHL 
for the charter fishery.

DATES: The GHLs are effective beginning 1200 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), February 1, 2006, and will close at 2400 hours, A.l.t., 
December 31, 2006. This period is specified by the IPHC as the sport 
fishing season in all waters of Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Gasper, 907 586 7228, or e-mail 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS implemented a final rule to establish 
GHLs in IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A for the harvest of Pacific 
halibut (Hippoglosses stenolepis) by the charter fishery on August 8, 
2003 (68 FR 47256). The GHLs are intended to serve as a benchmark 
harvest level for participants in the charter fishery.
    This announcement is consistent with Sec.  300.65(c)(2), which 
requires that GHLs for IPHC regulatory Areas 2C and 3A be specified by 
NMFS and announced by publication in the Federal Register no later than 
30 days after receiving information from the IPHC which establishes the 
constant exploitation yield (CEY) for halibut in IPHC regulatory areas 
2C and 3A. Based on the regulations at Sec.  300.65(c)(1), the CEY 
established by the IPHC in 2006 in Area 2C results in a GHL of 
1,432,000 pounds (649.5 mt), and results in a GHL of 3,650,000 pounds 
(1,655.6 mt) in Area 3A.
    This notice does not require any regulatory action by NMFS and is 
intended to serve as an notice of the GHLs in Areas 2C and 3A for 2006. 
If the GHL is exceeded in 2006, NMFS will notify the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) in writing within 30 days pursuant 
to regulations at Sec.  300.65(c)(3). The Council is not required to 
take action, but may recommend additional management measures after 
receiving notification that a GHL has been exceeded.

Classification

    This notice does not require any additional regulatory action by 
NMFS and does not impose any additional restrictions on harvests by the 
charter fishery. If the GHL is exceeded in any year, the Council would 
be notified, but no action would be required to be taken. This process 
of notification is intended to provide the Council with an indication 
of the level of Pacific halibut harvest by the charter fishery in a 
given year and could prompt future action.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.

    Dated: April 11, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-5683 Filed 4-14-06; 8:45 am]
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